Current collector of the pantograph type



Nov. 21, 1950 R. o. HEINEMANN CURRENT COLLECTOR OF THE PANTOGRAPH TYPE Filed Jan. 12, 1946 R. O. HEINEMANN CURRENT COLLECTOR OF THE PANTOGRAPH TYPE Nqv. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1946 INVENTOR @ber/ 0, fle/nemanfl.

WITNESSES: myrg/r Q1/- ATTOR aEy Patented Nov. 21, 1950 CURRENT COLLECTOR OF THE PANTOGRAPH TYPE Robert 0. Heinemann, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 12, 1946, Serial No. 640,842

9 Claims. 1

My invention relates generally to current collectors and it has reference in particular to operating systems for current collectors of the pantograph type.

Generally stated, it is an object of my invention to provide an operating system for a current collector of the pantograph type which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is easy to operate.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide an electric motor operating system for current collectors of the pantograph type.

It is also an object of my invention to provide for using opposed raising and lowering springs for operating a pantograph and for simultaneously varying the tensions of said springs in opposite senses.

Another object of my invention is to provide for using a motor operated crankshaft for simultaneously varying the tensions of the raising and lowering springs of a pantograph in opposite senses.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide for operating a pantograph by means of opposed raising and lowering springs connected to a crankshaft which is rotated by an electric motor, and for releasing a latch which normally locks the pantograph in the down position when the crankshaft reaches an operating position in which the operating forces of the raising and lowering springs are substantially balanced.

Still another object of my invention is to provide for applying tension to the raising springs of a pantograph by means of a motor operated crankshaft, and to provide for initiating movement of the pantograph by means of a booster actuated by a cam on the crankshaft.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide for reducing the size of the raising and lowering springs on current collectors of the pantograph type.

A further object of my invention is to provide for so operating a current collector of the pantograph type by means of raising and lowering springs that the springs do not operate at their maximum tensions against each other.

'Still another object of my invention is to provide for using opposed operating springs for raising and lowering a pantograph of which the weight is balanced by independent balancing springs.

Other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, be explained hereinafter.

In accordance with one embodiment of my invention, a current collector of the pantograph type is provided with proposed raising and lowering springs which are connected at one end to raising and lowering cams on the pantograph shafts. The other ends of the springs are connected to a crankpin on a crankshaft which is rotatably positioned intermediate the pantograph shafts and which is actuated by an electric motor to simultaneously stretch one set of springs and release the other for raising or lowering the pantograph. A latch, which is normally biased into the locking position, is actuated momentarily by a cam on the crankshaft when the tensions of the raising and lowering spring are substantially balanced, so as to release the pantograph. A booster also actuated by a cam on the crankshaft starts the pantograph moving upwardly.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be made to the following detailed description which may be studied in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a current collector of the pantograph type (in the down position) embodying the invention in one of its forms;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the motor operating mechanism showing the arrangement of the latch and. booster;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2 showing one arrangement of the latch and operating cam;

Fig, 4 is an enlarged partial plan view of the current collector of Fig. 1 in the up position, showing the details of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial view of the current collector of Fig. 1 in side elevation with the pantograph frame in the up or raised position; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial view of the current collector of Fig. 1 in side elevation with the pantograph frame in the down or lowered position.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 10 may denote generally a current collector of the pantograph type which may be supported on the roof H of an electrically operated vehicle by means of insulating supports [2 which engage the frame structure M of the current collector. The current collector Ii may comprise a pantograph frame having lower frame members 15 and i6 mounted on spaced apart pantograph shafts I1 and 58, respectively, which may be rotatably supported on the frame structure it by means of bearings 28. Upper frame members 22 and 23 may be connected to the lower frame members 15 and It for supporting a pair of main pantograph shoes 25 and an auxiliary pantograph shoe 26 which may be mounted on support means 21.

In order to provide for operating the pantograph frame to raise the shoes 25 into engagement with a trolley conductor (not shown), a pantograph operating mechanism 30 may be provided as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The mechanism may comprise balancing springs 32-, raising springs 33, lowering springs 34, and operating means for varying the tensions of the raisin and lowering springs.

For example, the weight of the. pantograph may in part at least be balanced by means of.

the balancing springs 32, which may be connected by means of bolts 36: to frame members 3'! of the support structure. The other ends of the balancing springs may be operativelyconnected to cams 38 which may be mounted on the pantograph shafts l1 and I8 for applying forces thereto to produce moments which balance the gravitational forces acting on the pantograph frame:.

The raising'springsz33-may be operatively connectedto the. pantograph shafts i1 and is by means of" raising cams- 42' for applying forces thereto to rotatethepantograph shafts IT and |8*-in'- clockwise and counterclockwise directions, respectively, for raising the pantograph frame. The lowering springs 34 maybe correspondingly connectedito thepantographshafts l! and Iii-by means of. lowering cams 53, so that they may apply' forces theretowhich tend to rotate the shafts L? and- IBincounterclockwise and clockwise directions; respectively, for lowering the pantographframe. The'other ends of the'raising and lowering springs 33 and 3 i-may be connected tothe crankpins 44 and Q of a crank shaft-46 which may be positioned intermediate the pantograph shafts I1 and 18,- being, for example, rotatablymounted by means of suitable bearings ontransverse frame members 48 of the frame structure.

The crankshaftAi-may be operated by means of a motor 50 through a gear reduction 5|- and a flexible coupling 52; The motor 53 may be arranged to operate ineither direction continually by means of a limit switch and brake mechanism 53- and a push-button control station of a type well known in the art. A latch 54 may be provided for normally engaging a portion ofthe pantograph frame to lock and retainthe pantograph inthe down position. The latch-may, as shown in-Fig: 3, be normally biased to the locked position by a. spring 55, for engaging a catch-member ison'the auxiliary shoe 25. A-cam-5l may be-provided on the crankshaft 45 for momentarily releasing the latch. Means, such asthebooster 58,- may be provided for assisting the pantographframe in its upward-movement when released.- The booster 58rnay comprise a slidable rod actuated by a cam 59 on the crankshaft $5 in a manner which will be explained hereinafter in detail.

As shown in Fig. i, the crankshaft is in the up or raise operating position, so that the raising springs 33 are stretched, thus indicating that they'are applying forces to the pantograp-h shafts IT and [8 in such a direction as to raise the pantograph frame. The lowering springs 34- arerelaxed, so thatthey exert a minimumof force. As shown in Fig. 5, the crankpin M is at the extreme leftoperating position and theicrankpin is at the extreme right operating position-of its throw, sothatthe raising spring 33 is fully stretched and applies a force to the raising camszwhich operates the shaft 1'! in a clockwise-direction raising the pantograph frame aszshown-bythei positionofthe lower frame members 15. At the same time the lowering spring 34 is shown in the relaxed position, wherein it applies a minimum of opposing force to the raising spring 23. The latch 54 is shown in its normal latching position to which. it is biased by means of the latch spring 55.

When it is desired to lower the pantograph, the motor 50 may be operated through a suitable control station in the cab of the vehicle comprising, for example, raise" and lower push buttons (not shown). As soon as the crankshaft 45 begins to move'in either direction from the operating position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tension in the raising springs 33 decreases, while that of the lowering springs 34 increases, since the crankpins (i l and 45 move away from the lowering cams in a direction towards their associated raising cams. Accordingly, the lowering springs 34 operate the lowering earns 43 against the decreasing tension of the raising springs 33, and the pantographstructure lO- is lowered. When the crankshaft 45 reachesa position approximately from the operating: position shownin Figs. 4 and 5, the motor 59 may be stopped. by means of the limit switch and brake. mechanism 53, and. the latch engages the catch 56 on the underside of the auxiliary pantograph shoe 26, thuslocking the pantograph in the down position.

To raise the pantograph the motor. 50 is operated through its control station (not shown), and the crankshaft as is rotated in either directionfrom the position shown in Fig. 6 toward that shown in Figs. 4; and 5. After the crankshaft has rotated through approximately 60-90, the tension of the raising springs-33-may have increased so as to be'sufiicient to overcome the decreasing forces applied to the pantograph shafts by the-lowering springs 3 At this point the latch 54 is released from the locking position by means of the cam 57 on thecrankshaft 46, and the booster 55. may be actuated by means of: the cam 59, as shown in'Fig. 2, to assist the pantograph in moving upwardlyfrom the locked down position. The motor 5t continues to'operate until the crankshaft 56. has rotated through approximately 180 whereupon it isstopped by means of the limit switch and brake mechanism 53, andthe pantograph occupies the up or raised position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

From the above description and the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that I have provided a. pantograph operating system which is both simpleand inexpensiveto manufacture, and easy to operate. By means of my invention, the pantograph may-be operated from a storage battery on the locomotive, andsuch an operating system is well adapted forruse onvehicles wherein dynamic braking and solenoid brakes. have done away with the requirement for air brakes, so that there are no other uses for compressed air'on the vehicle. Accordingly, the air compressor, piping and control may be eliminated. By providing for operating the raising and lowering springs in opposed relation, only two springs having, for example, a. maximum force of 400 lbs. each, are stretched at one time, instead of two springs, each having a maximum force of 700 lbs. as in the conventional design. The latch is normally biased to the locking position, and is released only momentarily in order to release the pantograph. Accordingly, the pantograph can be lowered by means of a hook stick and latched in the event of motor or battery failures, without requiring anyone to'go to the top of the vehicle.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described construction, and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all the matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be considered as illustrative and not in-a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A pantograph collector comprising, a pantograph frame, opposed raising and lowering spring means each having one end operatively connected to the frame by cam operating means and arranged to actuate said frame in opposite directions, and operating means connected to the other end of each of the spring means operable to provide a variable anchor point for simultaneously varying the tensions of the spring means in opposite senses and actuating the pantograph frame.

2. A pantograph trolley comprising, a pantograph frame, raising spring means having one end operatively connected to the frame by cam means to raise it, lowering spring means having one end operatively connected to the frame by cam means to lower it, and crank means having the other ends of the spring means operatively connected thereto operable to vary the tensions of the spring means in opposite senses to raise or lower the frame.

3. A pantograph collector comprising, a pantograph frame, a crankshaft rotatably supported adjacent the frame for rotation through 360 degrees and having an eccentric crankpin, a raising spring having one end connected to the crankpin and the other end connected to the pantograph frame to actuate it to the raised position, and a lowering spring positioned in opposed relation to the raising spring, said lowering spring having one end connected to the crankpin and the other end connected to the pantograph frame to actuate it to the lowered position.

4. In a pantograph collector, a pantograph frame supporting a current collector shoe mounted on a pair of spaced apart rotatable shafts, a crankshaft rotatably mounted intermediate said shafts and provided with an eccentric crankpin, a raising spring operatively connected at one end to one of the shafts to rotate the shaft in a direction to raise the pantograph and operatively connected at the other end to the crankpin, a lowering spring operatively connected at one end to the other shaft to rotate it to lower the pantograph and operatively connected at the other end to said crankpin, and operating means rotating the crankshaft in one direction only to alternately raise and lower the collector.

5. A pantograph collector comprising, a collector shoe, a pantograph frame supporting the shoe mounted on a pair of spaced apart rotatable shafts, a pair of cams mounted on each of said shafts for raising and lowering the frame, a crankshaft rotatably mounted between the shafts having a pair of oppositely disposed crankpins, a pair of raising springs, one connected to each of the crankpins and to the raising cam on a different shaft, a pair of lowering springs connected one to each of the crankpins and to the lowering cam on a different shaft in opposed relation to the raising springs, and operating means selectively operating the crankshaft in a single direction of rotation to different operating positions to simultaneously vary the tensions of the raising and lowering springs in opposite senses 6. A pantograph collector comprising, a shoe,

a pantograph frame supporting the shoe mounted on a pair of spaced rotatable shafts, latch means normally-biased to a pantograph frame engaging position to lock the frame in a down position, spring means operatively connected to the shafts in opposed relation, and a crankshaft positioned intermediate the shafts having a crankshaft with a crankpin connected to the spring means and rotatable through 360 degrees to operatively tension the spring means, said crankshaft having cam means operable to actuate the latch means to release the Pantograph frame in predetermined relation to operative tensioning of the Spring means to raise the pantograph frame.

7. A pantograph structure comprising, a pantograph frame mounted on oppositely rotatable spaced shafts, booster means operable to assist in raising the frame, a crankshaft rotatably positioned intermediate the shafts having an eccentric crankpin and cam means actuating the booster means, spring means connected to the crankpin and operatively connected to one of the shafts so as to rotate the shaft to raise the frame when the crankpin is remote from said shaft, and additional spring means connected to the same crankpin and operatively connected to the other shaft so as to rotate said other shaft to lower the frame when the crankpin is rotated to a position remote from said other shaft.

8. A pantograph collector comprising, a pantograph frame supported on rotatable shafts, balancing springs having one end connected to the shafts and arranged to balance the weight of the frame, a crankshaft rotatably mounted intermediate the shafts, a raising spring having one end so connected to one of the shafts as to raise the frame when tensioned, an oppositely disposed lowering spring having one end so connected to the frame as to lower the frame when tensioned, and connecting means operatively connecting both springs to the shaft so that the tension of one is increased and that of the other is decreased simultaneously as the shaft rotates.

9. The combination in a pantograph current collector, of a collector shoe, a pantograph frame supporting the shoe mounted on a pair of oppositely rotatable spaced apart shafts, a pair of balancing springs connected to said shafts operable to balance the weight of the pantograph frame, latch means normally biased to a frame engaging position to lock the frame in a down position, booster means operable to assist the pantograph to rise, a crankshaft rotatably positioned intermediate said shafts having a pair of oppositely disposed crankpins and cam means actuating the latch means and the booster means in timed relation, and a raising spring and a lowering spring connected to each crankpin in opposed relation, said raising and lowering spring being connected to different ones of the shafts to alternately raise or lower the frame, as the crankshaft is rotated in the same direction.

ROBERT O. HEINEMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Schaake Sept. 11, 1934 

